Coleridge Gardens Tennis Court

Eliano: Tough match, I was lucky to win a few close games. Looking forward to the next one, thanks Ranko!

Ranko: Great match Eliano. Some really good rallies, lots of close games but you made it count when it mattered. I’ll get closer next time! ;)

Fabio: Great match as always! Thanks Ranko and good luck for the next games!

Ranko: As usual, incredible ability to extend points! I think we had some rallies of 30+ shots. Well done and great fun (if exhausting!). Good luck for the rest of it!

Ranko: Great game David! I’ll be somewhat briefer in my analysis: a strong opponent who had a tough second day, the last set doesn’t adequately reflect the relative levels. Good luck for the rest of the league!

David: Update: five days later, we returned to Coleridge Gardens on a fine Monday evening to play a deciding set and it was Ranko who demonstrated his higher ranking with a impressive display! Despite my best efforts, I struggled to find my rhythm as Ranko completely dominated proceedings! I quickly fell 2-0 down and desperately needed a game on the board to shift the momentum in my favour! A long third game followed and I spurned around five break-points before eventually wilting under pressure and handing Ranko the initiative! Afterwards it was plain sailing as Ranko won the set without dropping a game and clinched a deserved victory! Congratulations! A fantastic battle with Ranko at Coleridge Gardens on a sunny Wednesday morning which lasted two hours and still failed to produce a winner! The first set was very tight throughout! Ranko broke my serve in the opening game and then I foolishly struck the ball out of the standalone court and into the stinging nettles! Despite his best efforts, Ranko failed the retrieve the ball and then got stung for a second time when I broke straight back! We both held serve for the next six games and the score was locked at 4-4. I held again to make it 5-4 and then broke Ranko’s serve to grasp the overall lead! Ranko fought back admirably in the second set and raced into a 5-1 lead. My level dipped dramatically and I almost forgot how to hit the ball properly! However, I rediscovered my touch and somehow won the next four games to level the set at 5-5! A long game on my serve followed but Ranko finally stopped the rot and moved 6-5 ahead. Yet I broke back and forced a tie break! I started the tie break well and claimed a 4-1 advantage but Ranko responded superbly and won the next five points to go 6-4 up. I won the next point but Ranko wrapped up the set, winning the tie break 7-5! And then we ran out of time! Well played Ranko! I think one set all was the fairest outcome in what proved to be a very competitive match! I’m looking forward to finishing our match! To be continued…

Fabio: Great game with Ranko with lots of tight games and many deuces!

Ranko: Great game Fabio!

Eliano: Fun match! Thanks Ranko for arranging the court, good luck with the rest of the league!

Ranko: Great match!

Eduardo: Great match with Ranko in wet conditions, really teicky to hit the ball that was sometimes not boincing normally.

Ranko: Too good Eduardo. Need to get those slices back better next time!

Ranko: Thanks for pushing through the injury Paul - should have been much closer. Let’s play again!

Paul: Thanks Ranko. Sorry for not giving you much of a game today. All the best. Paul.

Eliano: Great match with long games and fun rallies. Thanks for arranging the court!

Ranko: Great game Eliano - too good!

Ranko: Great game Bruno. Good luck with the rest of the recovery, I’m sure you’ll get there soon! I can see you have a great game.

Bruno: Many thanks for the game Ranko!! All the best with the rest of your games! Looking forward to playing again in the future!